Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and I also endorse this Bill's subject matter, the provision for the accession of the republics of Romania and Bulgaria. This will give effect to an enlargement that must be completed by December 2006.

Last week, I visited Lithuania and Latvia as a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on European Affairs and witnessed their transformation from a commitment to the communist regime to their current situation. Despite having full membership of the EU, many problems remain. This made me consider the difficulties experienced by emerging democracies and how they will shape up in the years ahead.

I remember the fall of Ceaucescu many years ago. I welcome this opportunity to say how important it is that Romania and Bulgaria become members of the EU. During recent years and the preparations for accession, issues have been red flagged. I noted in the Minister of State's speech that the number of major issues in respect of Romania has been reduced from 14 to four. In Bulgaria the outstanding issues have been reduced from 16 to six. The main areas of concern to member states are progress in judicial reform and the fight against corruption and organised crime, which are still prevalent in both countries. In addition, there are concerns over measures to combat trafficking and the integration of minorities.

Lithuania and Latvia are new member states which acceded to the EU in 2004 and still have many problems as emerging democracies. Many new parties have formed, eager to make a name for themselves and become the key parties of the future. The governments in both countries are about to collapse and are trying to reform with a mixture of small parties. We should be concerned about the administrative structures in Romania and Bulgaria. Both have emerged from communist regimes and still display mindsets from that era in the way they deal with Structural and Cohesion Funds and the bureaucracy of the European Commission. Latvia's entry into the euro was rejected because it had not done its homework so detailed preparation is necessary for accession.

What does the future hold with regard to enlargement? When do we cry "Stop" and say "Enough is enough"? The public is concerned that the EU is becoming too big and unwieldy and, while there is a need for a common purpose on crime, the threat of terrorism and energy, as well as on the emergence of the growing economies of India and China, people are concerned over the ratification of the constitution and the future of enlargement.

I welcome Bulgaria and Romania's accession applications, but their ratification does not necessarily mean all the problems will have gone away, even though the accession of new countries in 2004 was a success, especially in the way it allowed for the free movement of people into this country. Bearing in mind the days of Ceaucescu, who would not welcome the emerging democracies of Romania and Bulgaria? However, many details still require to be worked out. It will not be an easy transition and people in every member state question whether, if enlargement goes any further, the structures of the European Commission will be able to cope. That is for a future discussion but the Bill before us today is to ratify the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to the EU.